Friday, 14 February 2014

Love Is A Rebellious Bird!

Love Is A Rebellious Bird - Collage

February is a month of hearts and flowers,
of Cupid and his bow, of love in the air, and when all things Romantic
merge on February 14th.

And
when I think of Romance, music fills my soul. Opera intrigues me. The
stories are timeless. The music inspiring. I wanted to know more. But
which Opera? It was then my Muse directed me towards Georges Bizet's
"Carmen". It had everything I was looking for to warm our snowy
Pennsylvania February.

First
performed at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in 1875, "Carmen" is a story of
love, jealousy, intrigue, and murder. The Habanera certainly intrigued me. In it
Carmen sings of love as a rebellious bird. She sings of freedom and
being, above all, true to herself. She is fearless and would rather face
death than compromise her emotions.

The debate over the representation of Carmen continues. Was she a femme fatale or a strong woman ahead of her time? Should she be considered heroic for being the master of her heart and body at a time when this was a radical notion? But is her intelligence and feminist persona compromised by her blind devotion to fatalism and superstition? When reading her fortune in a spread of cards, Carmen believes her fate is set when she sees "Diamonds and Spades", the cards of death.

One thing is certain, Carmen is a complex character who fascinates us to this day. She is a challenge and a joy to any mezzo-soprano who has the opportunity to play her.

The
collage is a diptych using two gallery wrapped canvases. Using this
type of canvas enabled me to continue the images on all sides. I set the
background with Distress Inks and acrylic paint. The image at the
bottom of the canvas, attached using the image transfer method, is from an antique book on the history of War. A vintage opera poster
supplied my Carmen. I cut my own diamond stencil to use with
metallic acrylic paint. I finished the collage using art papers,
metallic paint, and ephemera.

Although Carmen came to a disastrous end, may you find a Valentine who cherishes you for your unique and fearless self.

About Me

Artists, dancers, writers, and poets search for a Muse for guidance, inspiration, passion, and the spark of creativity.

As a member of Sisterhood of the Muse, my Blog is home to the work of artists, and like-minded souls, who hear her voice and allow the fascination to begin.

As a visual artist and dancer, I enjoy exploring the
seduction of spirit and following the journey wherever it may take me. Utilizing a variety of techniques, my work is a
convergence of the traditional with the digital...in both the visual and performing arts.

Above all, I am a great believer in Synchronicity and love the idea that it can lead to the most profound aha moments we can experience in life and in Art.

My desire is to share what inspires me, entertain those who choose to visit, and perhaps spark the sense of wonder and creativity that dwells in us all.